ABAKAN, April 21./TASS/. At least 34 people have been killed, and more than 7,500 people have been affected in large-scale wildfires in southern Siberia as of Tuesday, Russian Minister for Emergency Situations Vladimir Puchkov said at a session in Khakassia chaired by President Vladimir Putin.

He said the situation had been triggered by "abnormal weather changes as well as unsanctioned agricultural burning and trash burning at private households". The most affected are the republic of Khakassia, the Krasnoyarsk and Trans-Baikal regions.

As a result, residential buildings, agricultural facilities, as well as facilities of social infrastructure, power economy and communications were affected, he said.

The minister said more than 1,400 people had sought medical aid, and 77 people had been hospitalized, four of them airlifted to Moscow clinics. "Their condition is stably grave, but is under control," Puchkov said.